Intro to Anatomy

Anatomical Position

• Erect Stance

• Arms at side

• Palms facing forward

• Used to increase communication between healthcare professionals

Anatomical planes

• The body is split into 3 parts

• Frontal

• Sagittal

• Transverse

Frontal

Split front and back

Sagittal

left and right

transverse

superior and inferior

Anterior

Front of the body, frontal plane

Posterior

Back of the body, frontal plane

Medial

Sagittal plane, toward the midline of body

Lateral

Sagittal plane, away from midline of the body

Proximal

Towards the origin (EX: legs and arms only)

Distal

Away from origin

Inferior

Point is lower than another

Superior

One structure is higher than another

Superficial

Close to body’s surface

Ex: Wound on skin, skin surface

Deep

Away from body’s surface, a wound deep inside your body

Prone

Laying on your stomach

Supine

Laying on your back

Horizontal

Left and right

Vertical

Up and down.